Amy’s Kitchen Scores with Natural Frozen Entrees and More

Amy’s Kitchen is a remarkable natural frozen food company located in Petaluma, California, just 30 miles north of the Diabetes Health offices. The company was founded in 1987 by Rachel and Andy Berliner, who named it after their young daughter Amy. They started on the proverbial “shoestring” budget, working out of their house and using their barn as headquarters.

In 1987, the idea of organic food was not well known and there weren’t many frozen meals for vegetarians to buy. Their first product, a vegetable pot pie, was an instant success. Since then, according to Amys.com, they have created more than 88 frozen meals, including pizzas, pocket sandwiches, pot pies, entrées, snacks, and whole meals. In 1999, they introduced a grocery line that includes canned soups, beans, and chili, as well as bottled pasta sauces and salsas. Their foods are carried by natural food stores, supermarkets, and some club stores in the United States, Canada, and abroad.

Not all their food is diabetes-friendly because the carb counts can get a little high, especially if you’re trying to follow Dr. Bernstein’s diet. But check out their products at the store, read the labels, and decide if there’s one that fits your carb budget. The company’s website features several success stories about people losing weight by following some of their detailed diets.

My 11-year-old twin daughters and I tried the Breakfast Scramble Wrap. We thought it tasted pretty darn good for something so easy to prepare (two-and-a-half minutes in the microwave). You’d swear it contained eggs (none of Amy’s products contain peanuts, shellfish, fish, or eggs), but it’s made of organic tofu, vegetables, and cheese. We liked its nice “perky” flavor that was neither bland nor too spicy. We thought it tasted much better than it looked (it’s a yellow explosion once you take a bite), and the whole wheat “wrap” was nicely textured. For those of you with allergies, the Scramble contains wheat, milk, soy, and sesame oil. While not exactly low carb, the whole Wrap has 30 grams of carbs, 21 grams of protein, and 380 calories, and could be a complete breakfast. It’s a nice way to get going on a cold morning!

The Roasted Vegetable Tamale entrée is non-dairy and gluten free. It’s made from organic white corn, filled with organic vegetables, and topped with a red sauce. A side of black beans rounds out the meal. Our office taste testers really liked it. They felt that the flavor and texture of the tamale was complemented nicely by the beans and thought that the sauce was perfect-not too heavy and not too light. Definitely a “thumbs up.” The entire thing is one serving and contains 46 grams of carb, 9 grams of protein, and 280 calories.

The organicChocolate Cake was an instant home run in our office. Yup, it’s a dessert, and desserts are a no-no, but if you’re going to go there…this vegan non-dairy cake delivers. We found the flavor deliciously light, very chocolaty, and moist. Wow! There are about six servings per container. One serving has 27 grams of carbs, 2 grams of protein, and 170 calories.

Amy’s Kitchen uses only natural ingredients, so there are no partially hydrogenated oils in any of their products. Their products also contain no additives, no preservatives, no GMOs (genetically modified organisms), and 0 grams of trans fat. Trans fatty acids, or trans fats, are formed when liquid vegetable oils go through hydrogenation. Some food manufacturers use hydrogenated vegetable fat because it is solid at room temperature and has a longer shelf life. However, consumption of trans fats from partially hydrogenated vegetable fats and oils is thought to play a role in diabetes and other serious health-related issues. The FDA and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that people consume as few trans fats as possible. Products made from vegetables, fruits, and grains have no trans fats.

Tip: Amys.com is a fun and informative website. Check out their Gluten Free Diet Plan, which uses their numerous gluten-free entrees.

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